Happy Eco-Easter!

Date:01-Apr-15Author: Ryan Collins

Easter Crafts and Activities

Easter arts and crafts are great way to keep the family entertained over the long-weekend and there is no reason why they can't be eco-friendly. Egg decorating is one of the most traditional Easter crafts - and in some cultures an important part of the celebrations. Avoid toxic paints and dyes and plastic glitter and look for natural colours to give your eggs and beautiful earthy look. All-natural Easter egg dyes are easy to source and most use the technique of boiling eggs with different vegetables to give the effect of different colours.

If you're giving an Easter basket look around the house to see what you can use before heading out to buy something new. Old jars, hessian bags, cardboard shoeboxes and toilet paper rolls can all be fashioned into baskets and are a great place to start getting crafty! If your kids want to decorate their baskets, check out these great eco-friendly arts and craft supplies.

Fairtrade Treats

Did you know that cocoa is produced, traded and consumed in huge quantities across the world, the majority of which is consumed within the developed world?

Aussies enjoy chocolate as a tasty treat, but as most of the raw ingredients come from developing countries it is impossible for any individual to know whether they have been ethically sourced and traded.

The good news is that all you need to do is look for the Fairtrade logo to know the treat you are buying was ethically produced. By choosing this option, you are showing your support for cocoa famers and producers in the developing world. Fairtrade guarantee the delivery of improved working conditions for farmers, a fair and stable price for their produce, investment in local community development and environmentally sustainable farming methods. You'll never feel guilty about eating chocolate again!

Foiling the Fun!

After the Easter Bunny has paid a visit, there is always an abundance of Easter egg foil scattered around the house. Foil is made from aluminium, which is a non-renewable resource. Usually Easter egg foil is far too small to be put straight into your kerbside bin but if you collect it carefully and scrunch it into one large ball it is easily recyclable. To encourage the recycling of foil in your house, why not make a game out of it? We want to see your achievement. Take and share a photo of your Easter egg foil on our Facebook page or tag us on Twitter or Instagram.

Author: Ryan Collins

Ryan is the Recycling Programs Manager at Planet Ark.
After nearly a decade working in the banking and finance industry Ryan was drawn to a career in environmental conservation that saw him work in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji. With a background in psychology and environmental management, Ryan’s role at Planet Ark since 2012 has been focused on developing engaging and positive environmental behaviour change programs to help everyone recycle and reduce waste.